hello, i'm kasia madera, this is outside source. all eyes on tiktok — as the british government bans the chinese social media app from its phones and devices. there's already limited use of tiktok across government, but it is also good cyber—hygiene. the us, canada and india have taken similar action. but tiktok says the move is based on misconceptions. also in the programme. after months of strike action — hopes of an end to the nhs pay dispute in england — with a new offer to thousands of staff. and anger in parliment, and anger on the streets, after france's president forces

through his controversial pension reforms. we start with increasing warnings from western governments over the use of the chinese social—media platform, tiktok. today the british government banned it on all government and civil servants�* devices. take a listen. we're also going to ban the use of macro when devices. we will do so with immediate effect. mr speaker, this is a precautionary move. we know that there is already use of tiktok across government, but it is also good cyber—hygiene. on the face of it — the app might not look like a threat to national security. it's exploded in popularity as a platform to share short videos of viral dances and comical voice—overs. and has become a part of today's youth culture.

tiktok claims to have more than one billion monthly users worldwide. and last year it was the most downloaded app in the world. the app is owned by the chinese company byte—dance. and that's what's worrying governments. because the app can collect data stored on the device. that includes contacts, user content and location. here's our technology correspondent shiona mccall. what can beijing do with it? there was a law that was passed in 2017 in china which says that tech companies must comply with the communist party. so if they were to ask for the data from people all across the world, that could happen, and the concern is what chinese powers they would have if they were to ask ——access this kind of secure information that is on government minister's phones. the uk is not the first country to ban tiktok

from government devices. similar legislation has been imposed in the us, canada, the eu and taiwan and in 2020 india banned it outright, along with other chinese apps, over national security concerns. and the us could follow suit. here's our business correspondent katie silver. sell tiktok or else you might be banned. that is what the us government has told the parent company of tiktok. it has accused the chinese owned app as posing a national security risk by gathering the data of millions of users — and possibly feeding this back to the chinese government. it is something washington has alleged for years and something byte—dance has consistently denied. that the us government hasn't said this publicly. this is according to a report in the wall streetjournal. in which a tiktok spokesperson said if protecting national security is the objective, divestment doesn't solve the problem. and here was the chinese government's response. translation: the us has so far failed to produce evidence - that tiktok threatens

us national security. the us side should stop spreading false information on data security issues, stop unreasonably suppressing this company, and provide an open, fair, just and non—discriminatory business environment for foreign companies to invest and operate in the us." caitlin chin is a fellow at the centre for strategic and international studies. caitlin, your research focuses on technology regulation. kenneuy kennelly start with the most basic question, —— can we start, have you seen evidence of a security risk or is this a theoretial risk? the us government has not publicly revealed any direct evidence that the chinese government has access to personal information directly from tictac or yet directly controlled tech tax algorithm to target americans. that said, we do know that tictac has an enormous amount of sensitive information which poses

privacy concerns on its own, but to be fair, many mobile apps, especially in the united states, which has a very under regulated data ecosystem, many mobile apps collect similar information to tictac. so tictac is the norm, not the exception when it comes to data collection. we also know that the chinese government does have access to personal information that is stored within chinese borders. so it is a little bit unclear right now, just because we don't have all of the evidence yet, and that adds a degree of uncertainty to all of this. , , . ., ., this. given the secretive nature of the chinese _ this. given the secretive nature of the chinese government, - this. given the secretive nature of the chinese government, do - this. given the secretive nature of the chinese government, do you i the chinese government, do you reckon we would ever really get all of the evidence? and this suggestion that divestment, the opposite to investment, this idea that selling off a portion, the chinese part of the company, selling that off would work, does that work for you and your mind, in terms of making

tictac, which is used by so many people acceptable? it is absolutely ossible people acceptable? it is absolutely possible that _ people acceptable? it is absolutely possible that the _ people acceptable? it is absolutely possible that the public _ people acceptable? it is absolutely possible that the public will - people acceptable? it is absolutely possible that the public will neverl possible that the public will never have all of the evidence are probably understand the full scope of the chinese government access to personal information, just because it is so secretive and that chinese government does not always reveal this. that said, divestment of tictac to a us company or a non—chinese company will not be so easy. first of all, tictac will need to find a buyer, and any company or any individual that is wealthy enough to have the resources to purchase or tictac could also pose antitrust concerns, especially in the united states where the social media market is already so concentrated. a fair amount of risk tolerance as well because there is a good chance that the deal won't go through. the chinese government has strict export control laws that control the export of technology,

including potentially tictac�*s algorithm. it is unclear if tictac can find a buyer, and second bottom of the chinese government would allow it stop right in terms of regular users of tiktok. any alarm bells for you? if you have governments telling their employees to ban it, and ideas it off their device, what the rest of us? i government ban is very narrow, relatively speaking because so few government employees actually use tiktok on their work devices. most tiktok on their work devices. most tiktok users are between the ages of 18-30, tiktok users are between the ages of 18—30, whereas the average government employee will tend to stray a little bit older. most people don't use personal social media accounts on their work devices anyway. so i government ban would not affect very many people. a band or divestment on tiktok on the entire population, though, that could potentially affect hundreds of millions of people in the united states or if the span extends

worldwide, significantly more. and, if tiktok is not able to find a buyer or if the tiktok divestment does not go through, according to tiktok the only other option is a band. so maybe legal challenges, maybe a option, but at the moments, it looks like tiktok�*s feature is very uncertain and. fin it looks like tiktok's feature is very uncertain and.— it looks like tiktok's feature is very uncertain and. on that note, we will have to — very uncertain and. on that note, we will have to leave _ very uncertain and. on that note, we will have to leave it _ very uncertain and. on that note, we will have to leave it there. _ very uncertain and. on that note, we will have to leave it there. lots - will have to leave it there. lots more questions, yes, we will monitor it. thank you for having me. after months of strikes, ambulance records are being presented with the deal. the deal aims to bring to an end

a winter of industrial action which has seen nurses, ambulance staff and physiotherapists all go on strike. we are going to be making sure that we protect all front—line services at £14 billion that we announced at the end of last year, no one could doubt our commitment to making sure that the nhs is well—funded. that will always remain the case, and we have a great plan in place to make improvements. you see the results of that plan. if you look at ambulance waiting times are waiting times in a&e, they are already improving considerably from a couple of months ago and we are on track to bring the waiting list down, and with this pay agreement, now everyone is going to be united behind that and we can deliver a really fantastic quality care for patients up and down the country. that's what everybody in the nhs wants to do. back to philly to the hilt, and i look forward to doing that for the country.

so let's take a look at what's been agreed. the offer is in two parts. first a one—off payment for this financial year — to be paid within weeks — starting with around 1000 600 pounds — or $1900 — for the lowest paid, rising to £3700 for senior managers. and second, a pay rise of 5%, for the next financial year starting in early april. some campaigers point out that the offer is significantly short of a rise above inflation , and in real—terms means a pay cut. but negotiators on both sides say it's the best deal they can produce, and the unions are likely to recommend the deal to their members. the winter of industrial action has seen thousands of nurses, ambulance staff and other nhs workers in england taking action , on pay and other working conditions. let's hear now from one of the unions. rachel harrison is the gmb�*s national secretary and told us the government had moved significantly in making this offer: gmb was asking for pay talks to be

reopened, last year's pamper, ——gmb was asking for pay talks to be reopened, last year's pay offer, and negotiate with last year's path recommend that is what we have received, so we will now move to a full consult to take a pallet of gmb members working across the nhs and the ambulance service. we will be saying that this is the best we believe can be achieved through negotiations, and therefore recommend an acceptance, but ultimately, it will come down to gmb members to vote whether they accept or reject. the labour opposition say the offer comes too late and that strike action could have been avoided. here's the shadow health secretary wes streeting: i think where we are today is where we could have been before christmas, frankly. we've had 140,000 cancelled appointments and operations as a result of the strike disruption, and all because the government point blank refused to negotiate with the nurses come up with the paramedics and others before christmas when they are able to do so. so, well done steve barclay,

last minute dot com, he's come a long, he's finally negotiated an end to the dispute. doesn't know how he is going to pay for it because the budget was yesterday and he has concluded the talks today. it's an all around, i think i'm a demonstration of the incompetence of this government. joining me is mark boothroyd, an a&e staff nurse in london. explained to us what unites�*s position is on this offer. explained to us what unites's position is on this offer. unite is not recommending _ position is on this offer. unite is not recommending this - position is on this offer. unite is not recommending this offer- position is on this offer. unite is not recommending this offer to | position is on this offer. unite is l not recommending this offer to its members, we don't believe we can recommend it because they happen to reopen the pdl from last year. we are on the receiving a nine consolidated pay, which is like a bonus for last year and 5% for the year ahead which is a below inflation pay rise, again, for the umpteenth year in a row. this will again be a pay cut for our members,

and we cannot recommend accepting this and i think it's incredibly disappointing that other unions are recommending acceptance. it’s a disappointing that other unions are recommending acceptance. it's a lot of other unions, _ recommending acceptance. it's a lot of other unions, in _ recommending acceptance. it's a lot of other unions, in a _ recommending acceptance. it's a lot of other unions, in a gmb, - recommending acceptance. it's a lot of other unions, in a gmb, they - recommending acceptance. it's a lot of other unions, in a gmb, they are | of other unions, in a gmb, they are all backing this deal. so the rnc is describing it as a reasonable offer. ijust describing it as a reasonable offer. i just wonder, describing it as a reasonable offer. ijust wonder, given describing it as a reasonable offer. i just wonder, given that disruption that has been ongoing for such a long time, whether you will rethink your position on this in terms of what unite not backing it. the rear disru tion what unite not backing it. the rear disruption from _ what unite not backing it. the rear disruption from the _ what unite not backing it. the rear disruption from the nhs _ what unite not backing it. the rear disruption from the nhs comes i what unite not backing it. the rear. disruption from the nhs comes from what unite not backing it. the rear- disruption from the nhs comes from a decade of below inflation pay rise, a decade of underinvestment in the service. we have had only six days of strike action by the rcn, a comparable number by unite and other unions in the ambulance service. we are not the cause of the disruption. when there were no strikes going on,

there was major chaos in a&e in december and january, and the emergency medicine estimated at 500 people were dying to be due to delays in care and inability to admit patients in a timely manner. this is due to chronic underinvestment from the government and not from us. the pay deal doesn't address this. also the government hasn't committed to fund it. so there is due to chronic underinvestment from the government and not from us. the pay deal doesn't address this. also the government hasn't committed to fund it. so there's a real concern that this pay will result in this pay rise, which is not properly funded and will result in nhs trusts having to cut services in order to fund it, which will in worse conditions for patients, where his conditions for our members. patients, where his conditions for our members-— patients, where his conditions for our members. given that ministers reviousl our members. given that ministers previously said _ our members. given that ministers previously said there _ our members. given that ministers previously said there was - our members. given that ministers previously said there was no - our members. given that ministers| previously said there was no money available for this financial year and we have seen that changed with this offer, are you hoping that they will move? , , ., ., will move? yes. they need to move. rishi sunak's — will move? yes. they need to move. rishi sunak's comment _ will move? yes. they need to move. rishi sunak's comment that - will move? yes. they need to move. rishi sunak's comment that this - will move? yes. they need to move. rishi sunak's comment that this is i rishi sunak's comment that this is affordable, what is affordable? is it affordable to people dying because of ambulance weights? that

people are getting injured because they are not getting treatment soon enough? these are the costs of this affordable pay rise, continuing deterioration of the nhs and per treatment for patients. i think the government can find the money that wants to, but it needs to be pressured into it, and we should be continuing to strike until they put the series investment into the service and our pay.— the series investment into the service and our pay. mark, thank ou. and service and our pay. mark, thank yom and a&e — service and our pay. mark, thank you. and a&e staff— service and our pay. mark, thank you. and a&e staff nurse - service and our pay. mark, thank you. and a&e staff nurse and - service and our pay. mark, thankl you. and a&e staff nurse and also unites any member. unite not accepting this pay offer. thank you. now to france, where president emmanuel macron is forcing through his controversial pension reforms, without a parliamentary vote. although the plan to raise the pension age from 62 to 64 passed the upper house, ministers realised they might not have the numbers in the lower house. it fell to prime minister elisabeth borne to break the news.

the reaction from mps was boisterous, with some heckling, others breaking into song, while others even walked out. when she did get the chance to speak, this is what she said. translation: we cannot gamble on the future of our pensions. - this reform is necessary. also, because i'm attached to our social model and because i believe in parliamentary democracy, it is on your reform, on the parliament's text, the fruit of compromise between two chambers that i am ready to engage my responsibility. by engage "her responsiblity" france's prime minister means using special constitutional powers. this may be the least bad option for the government, but it is risky. paragraph three of article 49 has

been enshrined in the constitution since its inception in 1958. it allows the prime minister to force a bill through "after deliberation by the council of ministers." but opposition politicians will call for a vote of no confidence in the government in the next 24 hours. both sides of the political spectrum have expressed their anger. the far—right politician, marine le pen, said opposition deputies would file a motion of no—confidence in the government. translation: it's a question of preventing the expression l of the will of the french people through their elected representatives. they didn't manage to find a majority because they were bad. this reform was unfair, badly prepared, badly conceived from a badly presented, and until the end, it was like that. as the drama unfolded inside the assembly, outside there was plenty of anger too.

these are life scenes from the centre of paris, where protesters are denouncing the government. it is are denouncing the government. it is a heavy police presence as well, and some even tried to march on the national assembly a little earlier while others have been chanting. at this is the live scene where people are, again come out on the streets, not happy with this decision by president macron to use those special measures to force through this. here is what some of the people said earlier. translation: it's unbearable. we've been mobilised for two months and all the opinion polls show that they reject this pension reform. it's indecent and it's not going to stop there. we are here today and we will continue the mobilisation in our workplaces, everywhere in the cities, in the streets and elsewhere. we have to get together, we have to get organised, we have to fight. we have to make a mess, as some people say, block everything. take action, and in any case, what is certain is that we have

to go beyond the mode of operation which have prevailed until now. macron has made these reforms a central part of his second term, arguing it's essential for the pension system's long—term viability. so why have they created such anger? france's retirement age is currently 62. the same as sweden, portugal and greece. but much lower than many countries in western europe. the average retirement age across the european union is 65. italy and germany have moved towards raising the official retirement age to 67, so has the uk. the french government says raising the pension age to 64 will bring in an extra 19.5 billion dollars, or 18 billion euros, by 2030. earlier president emmanuel macron defended his reform plan, while speaking to french diplomats. translation: we must assume, l

not simply to put an end to decades of decline and weakening, which we ourselves have done, but to give ourselves the ability to re—engage necessary capabilities to be able to deploy new skills and basically come at a time when war has returned to european soil, to give ourselves the means to serve our interests, to defend our priorities and our influence. bruno palierfrom sciences po university in paris is an expert in welfare reforms in europe. i asked him iasked him how i asked him how the french president had managed to upset both ends of the political spectrum. first had managed to upset both ends of the political spectrum.— the political spectrum. first of all, he managed _ the political spectrum. first of all, he managed to _ the political spectrum. first of all, he managed to bother- the political spectrum. first of all, he managed to bother thej the political spectrum. first of- all, he managed to bother the french public opinion, that is the first thing, i think. public opinion, that is the first thing, ithink. he has public opinion, that is the first thing, i think. he has presented a reform that he knew was not very popular, but he was not to read the

thinking that he should prepare it well in the sense of making a clear study of impact, having a coherent communication strategy, and since he was too fast in doing these things, there has been a public debate that has been undermining the strength of the necessity for us, the argument ofjustice, and the communication was full of, let's say, error, and sometimes lies. so it's a loss towards the public opinion and then the opposition can play it with that and the radical right and the left can criticise for slightly different reasons, this project. he can criticise for slightly different reasons, this project. reasons, this pro'ect. he should've not the reasons, this project. he should've got the conservative _ reasons, this project. he should've got the conservative republican i got the conservative republican party inside, but he believed, initially, that he would get the numbers to get this through. he didn't. how could he not convince his natural bedfellows? i

didn't. how could he not convince his natural bedfellows?— his natural bedfellows? i think it is arrogance — his natural bedfellows? i think it is arrogance. he _ his natural bedfellows? i think it is arrogance. he believed - his natural bedfellows? i think it is arrogance. he believed that l his natural bedfellows? i think it| is arrogance. he believed that he had a trick, which was to propose a pension reform by the right—wing and he thought that just pension reform by the right—wing and he thought thatjust by doing that, he thought thatjust by doing that, he would trap the right, but the right took advantage of that to increase their demand and to blackmail the government so that the man from the right is increasing and increasing and he had to yield some stuff, but the right, the centre—right is divided, and the division had them asking for more and more, and he was trapped. turning to the united states now because the pentagon has released a video of what it claims to be part of tuesday's incident between a us drone and a russian jet. of tuesday's incident between a us drone and a russianjet. the incident, which happened here, this is in the black sea near ukraine,

the first direct us russian incidents since the war in ukraine began in february last year. and in the footage that we can see, what's claimed to be the russian jet is approaching the drone, the russian jet then, you can see they are committed to begins to release fuel as it passes before flying over the top of the drowned. the russian jet then repeats the manoeuvre. russia has denied the accusation that its jets acted recklessly. our defence correspondent explains.— jets acted recklessly. our defence correspondent explains. russia said it was approaching _ correspondent explains. russia said it was approaching their _ correspondent explains. russia said it was approaching their territory, . it was approaching their territory, their airspace. what you see from their airspace. what you see from the video footage, it is impossible to locate anything because it is essentially ce, sky and air. what it does look like and what the americans are saying is its international airspace, and we know that nato countries, including the us, uk, have flying surveillance

flights in the black sea region. they have been a number of interactions with the russians and more recently americans say unsafe and unprofessional interactions by the russians. but they are allowed to fly an international airspace. they deny to the us that they were flying near russian airspace. the footaae flying near russian airspace. the footage has _ flying near russian airspace. the footage has been released the day after the us and russian defence minister spoke over the phone about the incident, in a statement, the russian defence minister has told the us counterpart that it was noted that flights by strategicjones by the crimea coastline where provocative in nature, adding it created preconditions for an escalation of the situation in the black sea zone. well, the statement also said that russia had no interest in such a development budget will in future be active in due proportion. so cut this in fact escalate into a wider conflict? here

is samuel from the rand corporation think tank. , ., , ., think tank. neither side wants to use this to _ think tank. neither side wants to use this to escalate _ think tank. neither side wants to use this to escalate tensions - think tank. neither side wants to use this to escalate tensions and j think tank. neither side wants to i use this to escalate tensions and or end up in a direct conflict, so you are seeing both sides play down that prospect and try to contain any escalation that might emerge from this. more broadly, we are at a time where the communication between the us and russia is so minimal that it is precisely these kinds of incidents, perhaps not involving unmanned airframe as in this case, but, you know, you can imagine it involving unmanned aircraft or ships will stuff they could spiral out of control unintentionally and getting us into a much worse place. find if us into a much worse place. and if ou want us into a much worse place. and if you want to _ us into a much worse place. and if you want to see — us into a much worse place. and if you want to see that _ us into a much worse place. and if you want to see that footage - us into a much worse place. and if. you want to see that footage again, it is on our website, the moment the russianjets just it is on our website, the moment the russian jets just crashed it is on our website, the moment the russianjets just crashed with that zone, background, so much more our

website. i will be back injust i will be back in just the next few minutes. hello there, good evening. it's been a lot milder today than it was yesterday. we've also seen some outbreaks of rain, mostly towards western spots of the uk, some soggy footpaths here in lancashire, but across northern ireland, some decent sunny spells, also some heavy thundery downpours in here. it's been the warmest day of the year so far with temperatures around 16 celsius, and no big changes for the rest of the week either, mild across the board. more wet and windy weather to come in the forecast because low pressure remains dominant. and it's been sending us these weather fronts throughout today and will continue to do so. also on that brisk south—westerly wind, some very mild air marked in yellow. the cold air still across the far north of mainland scotland in the northern isles will remain

as we head through the rest of the week. now, overnight tonight, in the mild air, we should stay largely frost—free, still plenty of cloud across the southeast of england. there will be some clear spells further north and west, more showers just moving into southern and western areas of scotland too. temperatures dipping to between 6—10 celsius, so a mild start to the day on friday. now, on friday morning, our weather front that's been out across the channel islands willjust start to reinvigorate across southeast england and east anglia. so the rain likely to pop up for a time through the morning, eventually clearing eastwards as we head through the afternoon. elsewhere, there's going to be a lot more sunshine around on friday than we saw today. but the daytime heating could help to spark off a few heavy, possibly thundery downpours, so do watch out for those. temperatures, maybe a little bit higher, 14—15 celsius for many, a localised i6 celsius always still possible, and the breeze will tend to be a bit lighter too. now, low pressure remains dominant as we head into the weekend. it's never too far away, and it's going to be pushing across us, sending us more weather fronts on saturday morning.

so there'll be some showers, some longer spells of rain moving into western scotland, northern ireland as we head through the morning, eventually into northwest england, and we'll see some showers develop across much of england and wales as we head through the afternoon. there will be a lot more cloud by the end of the day. temperatures still mild, though, 11—15 celsius, but the south—westerly wind turns a bit more northwesterly as we head into sunday. so it's a cooler start to the day. a lot of dry weather around on sunday, and it could slowly start to brighten up. temperatures a little lower than on saturday. here's next week's weatherjust working its way in from the west.

hello, i'm kasia madera, this is outside source. all eyes on tiktok, as the british government bans the chinese social media app from its phones and devices. there's already limited use of tiktok across government, but it is also good cyber—hygiene. also in the programme... and global cocaine production reaches a record high as demand rebounds following covid lockdowns. in eastern ukraine, a special report on the fighters in the trenches of bakhmut, trying to resist the russian advance.

the united nations office on drugs and crime says global cocaine production hasjumped to record levels over the past two years. let's take a look at some of the findings. the report found coca cultivation in south america rose by 35% between 2021 and 2022. it also found that more people are using the drug in africa and asia, as well as in traditional markets like europe and the americas. the past decade has seen new hubs for cocaine trafficking emerge in west and central africa. and the use of crack cocaine is on an upward trend in a number of western european countries including the uk, belgium, france and spain. staying in europe, and the belgian port city of antwerp has overtaken the dutch city of rotterdam as the main entry point for cocaine into europe. last year a record 110 tonnes

were seized in antwerp, and incinerators used by belgian customs to burn the seized cocaine couldn't keep up with demand. kristian vanderwaeren is the head of belgian customs. it is the head of belgian customs. is a huge problem, it it is a huge problem, not only when it comes to the seizures as such but also the violence. last year we experienced an increase in violence in the city of antwerp, shooting, grenades, but also there has been an attempt of kidnapping of our ministry ofjustice. so the situation in belgium when it comes to the import of cocaine is getting pretty serious. the impacts of cocaine on communities are wide ranging. pastor mick fleming is a reformed drug addict and former dealer—turned—founder of church on the street in burnley, lancashire. here's his take.

i'm not surprised, so i think the most disturbing and alarming thing i am seeing with the widespread use is the level of mental health that it is causing. lets go to ontario now where we can speak to jason eli from the global initiative against transnational organised crime. what is your understanding behind why the numbers, why these numbers are rising so high, according to this report? i are rising so high, according to this report?— are rising so high, according to this re ort? ~ , this report? i think the first thing that we really _ this report? i think the first thing that we really should _ this report? i think the first thing that we really should take - this report? i think the first thing that we really should take out. this report? i think the first thing that we really should take out of| that we really should take out of this is that any report that indicates we are at record levels of cocaine use, cultivation of cocoa, production of cocaine, at the same time as near—record levels or seizures and eradication, we have to start asking ourselves what we're doing the current strategy to respond to this particular drug is not working.

respond to this particular drug is not working-— not working. what are we doing wron: ? not working. what are we doing mom? i not working. what are we doing wrong? i think— not working. what are we doing wrong? i think that's _ not working. what are we doing wrong? i think that's a - not working. what are we doing wrong? i think that's a good - wrong? i think that's a good question- — wrong? i think that's a good question. focusing - wrong? i think that's a good question. focusing a - wrong? i think that's a good question. focusing a lot - wrong? i think that's a good question. focusing a lot of. wrong? i think that's a good i question. focusing a lot of the efforts on targeting small level users, on focusing on eradicating other elements are missing with a wider element, add the element here is that you have got an extraordinary number of organised criminal groups that are involved in moving cocaine around the world, simply because there is a massive amount of profit available to be made. ~ , ., ., ., , , made. where should authorities be tarauetin made. where should authorities be targeting their _ made. where should authorities be targeting their initiatives, - made. where should authorities be targeting their initiatives, in - targeting their initiatives, in terms of the bigger drug gangs, at source? i terms of the bigger drug gangs, at source? ~ . terms of the bigger drug gangs, at source? ~' ., ., .., , source? i think there are a couple of thins source? i think there are a couple of things that _ source? i think there are a couple of things that we _ source? i think there are a couple of things that we need _ source? i think there are a couple of things that we need to - source? i think there are a couple. of things that we need to consider. first, globally, we are speaking now in countries meeting in vienna on the commission of narcotic drugs to

talk about drug policy around the world, we need to consider the response that has been designed and taken so far and look at alternatives. there had been billions and billions of dollars spent, hundreds of thousands of arresteds, thousands of seasons and yet today we are still looking at the situation how things continue to get worse. we perhaps have to reconsider that particular approach i'd look at alternatives, and there are some countries around the world that are looking at alternatives. canada being one, last month started a programme where they decriminalised certain amounts of drugs and they accompanied that with greater investment into mental health, homelessness and other factors around social vulnerability. we need to try and understand the market more than we really do in order to better respond to it. i would add also that from the side of

the organised criminal groups, arresting people, a arresting kingpins doesn't work, they are easily replaced, where they need to be targeted is at the core of their business which is money, and there are far too few countries around the world that have the measures in place and the willingness and initiative to tackle the financial side of the drug trade, seizing assets, seizing money, and pursuing those people, those corrupt individuals and institutions that are allowing this to continue. now to ukraine, and the ongoing fierce fighting for the city of bakhmut in the east of the country. two ukrainian army brigades defending the city's southern flank last week gave the bbc access to their positions as battles continued in and around the city. they say russian casualties far outweigh theirs,

but that their enemy is using new techniques to try to seize the city and surrounding countryside. quentin sommerville reports. in war�*s uncertain journey, fates are decided in the unlikeliest of places. ukraine has drawn a line in the mud, and that line is bakhmut. no matter the hardship, the enemy must not pass. this ground must be held. winter has given way to early spring. they hope it might slow russia's advance. the thing is, it complicates the job for both parties. the enemy has difficulty attacking, because nothing moves in the mud. nothing except tank tracks... ..and army boots.

the mud's unreal. it pulls you this way and that way. it's a trap for men, for vehicles. it makes moving around this battlefield almost impossible. and for the soldiers of the 3rd separate assault brigade, it means going the long way round. moving as fast as the territory allows. they're in range of russian guns. we're told to keep low. stop, stop! there's a russian outpost around here. these trenches are new, but warfare along this front is antiquated. below ground, these are dugouts that their grandfathers would recognise.

but by digging in, they've tied up russian forces here and held bakhmut longer than many expected. but it isn'tjust the conditions that are basic. this is a 21st—century war, being fought with 19th—century weaponry. it's a maxim machine—gun. 120 years of history of killing russians. a weapon from the first world war, used in the third world war. sporadic gunfire. right, we are heading right to the very forward position. we can hear shelling right now and automatic gunfire. there's more shelling. they get attacked here on a daily basis. translation: there are the enemy positions, so let's move very fast. i

0k. almost every day, some shells from artillery. we can see the craters all around here. there is a fresh crater, right there. we've got to go, we've got to go. there's hardly any tree cover here, the men are exposed. gunfire. and the russians have found them. ok, move, move. you can go in the car, because it's a little bit hotter here. keep down. gunfire. the russians are only 500 metres away. that's automatic fire. all along this line there's grenade fire, automatic gunfire and tank fire.

translation: it's really dangerous there, bullets are flying everywhere. that kind of fire is every day here. seven months, more than seven months into this battle, it's created a wasteland. this is the longest battle of the war so far. to the north, and to the east, and here in the south, russia's been making gains. but it's costing them. the ukrainians say that for every one soldier they lose, russia loses seven. but still they hold on here. and bakhmut is a town that no—one believes has strategic value. but to russia and to ukraine, it matters in this war. translation: this is not| a strategic question for us. we are just ordinary soldiers. but this is our land. if we lose here, then do we retreat to chasiv yar, to sloviansk,

then all the way to kyiv? however long it takes, two, four, five years, we have to fight for every piece of ground. so, every tiny step of land needs to be defended, even as they toil under waves of attack from russian prisoners sent by wagner group. translation: we were in combat every two hours. l as far as i understand, they were wagner. we were fighting them, and without over estimating our achievements, i would say a single company was killing 50 of their men a day. we checked the figures, they are awful numbers. they are outgunned and outnumbered but, for now, unyielding. in bakhmut, like in the rest of this war, they have grown used to the odds being against them. quentin sommerville, bbc news,

on the outskirts of bakhmut. there is a full article by quentin on our website. staying with ukraine, and a united nations commission of inquiry says russia has committed war crimes and crimes against humanity there. in its first report, the commission said those responsible must be held to account, if not in a national court then in an international one. the un commission does not have the power to prosecute, but it has identified individuals and military units it believes are responsible. the report, which details numerous violations committed by russian authorities, includes "indiscriminate and disproportionate" attacks on ukraine by russian forces, involving the killing of civilians outside of combat, and the use of torture, forcibly deporting children from ukraine, and the targeting of civilian infrastructure such as hospitals. eric mose, chair of the commission which conducted the inquiry, explained what happens next.

the first step is that on monday we will submit this report to the human rights council which is the normal procedure and then it will be up to the members of the council to engage in an interactive dialogue with us, and hopefully it will support its conclusions. it will then be up to the council to decide whether they want to prolong our mandate. our geneva correspondent imogen foulkes highlighted what was of particular interest in this report. very often the investigators say these could amount to war crimes or crimes against humanity, but here we have the investigators saying these are war crimes, they have what they say is very detailed evidence, they have a list of possible perpetrators, both individuals and people in the military, and when i asked them they said labour also

working on tracing the chain of command further up to the people in government in moscow who planned what this report says is a systematic violations, crimes against humanity. another jittery day for anotherjittery day for banking stocks as the european central bank hikes in interest rates despite worries about the financial sector. it was an avenue of more than 120 mature trees in plymouth, but in the dead of the night the council sent in the chainsaws. only 16 trees were saved by local campaigners. as jenny kumah reports. they came late at night to carry out what has been described as the

chainsaw massacre. then at around 1am, protesters were able to serve an injunction to stop the cutting. you cut any more trees, it will be a criminal offence. do you have anything to say? nothing to say to the people?— anything to say? nothing to say to the --eole? ., ':: :: , the people? more than 100 trees were already gone- — the people? more than 100 trees were already gone- the _ the people? more than 100 trees were already gone. the site _ the people? more than 100 trees were already gone. the site of— the people? more than 100 trees were already gone. the site of the - already gone. the site of the destruction in the cold light of day has left many in the city feeling angry. it has left many in the city feeling an: . , , has left many in the city feeling an. , , ~ angry. it is “ust as graceful. all the angry. it isjust as graceful. all the protests — angry. it isjust as graceful. all the protests and _ angry. it isjust as graceful. all the protests and all— angry. it isjust as graceful. all the protests and all the - angry. it isjust as graceful. all the protests and all the people angry. it isjust as graceful. all - the protests and all the people plus my feelings just meant nothing. —— all the people's feelings. the my feelingsjust meant nothing. -- all the people's feelings.— all the people's feelings. the city council says _ all the people's feelings. the city council says it _ all the people's feelings. the city council says it is _ all the people's feelings. the city council says it is obtaining - all the people's feelings. the city council says it is obtaining legal. council says it is obtaining legal advice and given the size of the tree machinery, it has scheduled the works to be carried out at night when there was few people around for public safety reasons. campaigners managed to save around a dozen trees through legal action. aha, managed to save around a dozen trees through legal action.— through legal action. a bittersweet victo . we through legal action. a bittersweet victory. we found _ through legal action. a bittersweet victory. we found footage - through legal action. a bittersweet victory. we found footage to - through legal action. a bittersweet| victory. we found footage to review and that will mean hopefully the

injection is upheld and we can save the extra trees on tuesday, and we just need to look at what has happened here and learn lessons. it is a may come down to lessons later than action beforehand because obviously they are gone now. the removal of— obviously they are gone now. the removal of these trees as part of a £13 million revamp of the city centre. the council says it has listened to the overwhelming objections and change the final design to deliver around 177 immature trees. modern sydney percent of respondents to a consultation on the plymouth tree plan opposed it, leaving many people feeling their views don't count. this is outside source live from the bbc newsroom. our lead story... british government ministers are banned from using chinese—owned social media app tiktok

on their work phones and devices. it's been anotherjittery day for banking stocks after the european central bank hiked interest rates by half of 1%, despite worries about stresses in the financial sector. some investors had hoped the current turmoil would deter the ecb from going ahead with the hike. shares in the troubled swiss giant credit suisse had stabilised after the swiss national bank offered it a funding lifeline. the central bank for the 20 countries which share the euro raised its key deposit rate by 50 basis points to 3%, the sixth consecutive increase, taking the rate to its highest level since late 2008. the ecb president christine lagarde made clear that the bank's priority was to tackle rising prices. inflation rising prices. is projected to remain too high inflation is projected to remain too high for too long. therefore, the governing council today decided to

increase the three key ecb interest rates by 50 basis points in line with our determination to ensure the timely return of inflation to our 2% medium—term target. the past week has seen not only the financial lifeline for credit suisse, but also the collapse of two us banks, silicon valley bank and signature. christine lagarde said the ecb was closely following the situation in the sector. we are monitoring current market tensions closely and we stand ready to respond as necessary to preserve price stability and financial stability in the euro area. the euro area banking sector is resilient with strong capital and liquidity positions. across the atlantic, the us treasury secretary has also been talking about the banking sector. this is what janet yellen told a senate committee hearing.

ican i can reassure the members of the committee that our banking system is sound added that americans can feel confident that their deposits will be there when they need them. this week's actions demonstrate our resolute commitment to ensure that our financial system remains strong and that depositors' savings remain safe. this is how shares in credit suisse closed today, up 19%. they rebounded after the swiss lender announced it had secured a $54 billion loan from switzerland's central bank. credit suisse shares had plummetted 24% on wednesday, after it disclosed "material weaknesses" in its financial reporting controls and its biggest shareholder, the saudi national bank, said it could not increase its stake on regulatory grounds. so how worried should we be about a broader banking crisis? here's dr mohamed el—erian, economic adviser to the international financial services provider, allianz.

also president of queen's college, cambridge university. ifiama if i am a depositor, i am not concerned. as we saw over the weekend in the uk, as we have seen in the us, as we saw in switzerland, the banking authority knows the importance of avoiding a deposit one. they moved very quickly to reassure us that our deposits are safe, so as a depositor i am not worried and that is important. if i am a creditor right own stock in a bank, i would am a creditor right own stock in a bank, iwould be am a creditor right own stock in a bank, i would be more worried because the business model itself is going to become less profitable. regulations are going up, the global economy faces more headwinds, so most of our site just depositors. eight few could be also holding stock in bonds, issued by those banks, in that case would be more

worried. five african nations have warned the british government about hunting trophies, posing greater risk to endangered animals than the hunters�* guns. mps will vote tomorrow on a bill that could prevent british hunters from bringing home souvenir pelts and heads. it is hunters from bringing home souvenir pelts and heads.— pelts and heads. it is the hobby of psychopaths- _ pelts and heads. it is the hobby of psychopaths. without _ pelts and heads. it is the hobby of psychopaths. without hunting, - pelts and heads. it is the hobby of- psychopaths. without hunting, people will not be able _ psychopaths. without hunting, people will not be able to _ psychopaths. without hunting, people will not be able to have _ psychopaths. without hunting, people will not be able to have an _ psychopaths. without hunting, people will not be able to have an income. i will not be able to have an income. when _ will not be able to have an income. when you _ will not be able to have an income. when you are at the top of the food chain, you have a choice. shoot with a camera or a gun. so—called trophy hunting sickens many. it a camera or a gun. so-called trophy hunting sickens many.— a camera or a gun. so-called trophy hunting sickens many. it usually had to t hunting sickens many. it usually had

tot and hunting sickens many. it usually had to try and understand _ hunting sickens many. it usually had to try and understand what - hunting sickens many. it usually had to try and understand what pleasure | to try and understand what pleasure any human being can get from blasting a beautiful animal to pieces. in many instances, entropy hunting, the animals that are killed are animals that have been in bread, so their human friendly. but are animals that have been in bread, so their human friendly.— so their human friendly. but hunting renerates so their human friendly. but hunting generates money. _ so their human friendly. but hunting generates money. illegal— so their human friendly. but hunting generates money. illegal lion - generates money. illegal lion enhance in some african countries can cost more than £100,000. money that can pay people�*s wages, boost local infrastructure and fund conservation projects. it is local infrastructure and fund conservation projects. conservation pro'ects. it is very well regulated, _ conservation projects. it is very well regulated, it _ conservation projects. it is very well regulated, it is _ conservation projects. it is very well regulated, it is not - conservation projects. it is very well regulated, it is not like - well regulated, it is not like somebody takes a gun and goes and hunts, we have a system in place, we make sure there is a certain number, mostly the old males that are taken off when it comes to certain species, it is not you just go and hunt unsustainably. species, it is not you “ust go and hunt unsustainably._ species, it is not you “ust go and hunt unsustainably. tomorrow in parliament _ hunt unsustainably. tomorrow in parliament mps _ hunt unsustainably. tomorrow in parliament mps are _ hunt unsustainably. tomorrow in parliament mps are due - hunt unsustainably. tomorrow in parliament mps are due to - hunt unsustainably. tomorrow in. parliament mps are due to debate hunt unsustainably. tomorrow in - parliament mps are due to debate and vote on whether hunters from the uk

should be banned from bringing back hunting trophies, body parts such as heads, horns, orthe skin hunting trophies, body parts such as heads, horns, or the skin of an animal that they have hunted. animal welfare issues _ animal that they have hunted. animal welfare issues is _ animal that they have hunted. animal welfare issues is something _ animal that they have hunted. animal welfare issues is something i've - welfare issues is something i�*ve been very passionate about, i�*m also very worried about endangered species being pushed over the break. some conservationists say that they are against this bill, they worried about the impact it will happen conservation efforts, the income of people who are reliant on the hunting industry, who are you to tell them are wrong? the evidence su: est tell them are wrong? the evidence suggest communities _ tell them are wrong? the evidence suggest communities in _ tell them are wrong? the evidence suggest communities in africa - tell them are wrong? the evidence| suggest communities in africa don't suggest communities in africa don�*t actually benefit from trophy hunting. it is big business, but that money doesn�*t go to poor communities, it goes to organisations that arrange trophy hunting. has organisations that arrange trophy huntinu. �* , .,, ., hunting. as well as government and cross-party — hunting. as well as government and cross-party support _ hunting. as well as government and cross-party support for _ hunting. as well as government and cross-party support for these - cross—party support for these private members bill, there has been high—profile backing from celebrities. but there is a real concern that if the ban becomes law, the hunting industry in many

countries will be hit hard and that the effects will be widespread. the tro - h the effects will be widespread. tie: trophy hunting bill the effects will be widespread. ti2 trophy hunting bill is going to destroy and reverse conservation models that were very successful in southern africa. the models that were very successful in southern africa.— southern africa. the killing of cecil the lion _ southern africa. the killing of cecil the lion by _ southern africa. the killing of cecil the lion by an _ southern africa. the killing of cecil the lion by an american | southern africa. the killing of - cecil the lion by an american hunter in zimbabwe in 2015 sparked global outrage. in 2016 some conservation charities criticised prince william after he said that commercial hunting can have a positive impact on efforts to save endangered. whatever parliament decides, many will never agree on this deeply divisive issue. don�*t forget you can get in touch with me and some of the team on twitter — i�*m @kasiamadera. thank you for watching, goodbye.

hello there, good evening. it�*s been a lot milder today than it was yesterday. we�*ve also seen some outbreaks of rain, mostly towards western spots of the uk, some soggy footpaths here in lancashire, but across northern ireland, some decent sunny spells, also some heavy thundery downpours in here. it�*s been the warmest day of the year so far with temperatures around 16 celsius, and no big changes for the rest of the week either, mild across the board. more wet and windy weather to come in the forecast because low pressure remains dominant. and it�*s been sending us these weather fronts throughout today and will continue to do so. also on that brisk south—westerly wind, some very mild air marked in yellow. the cold air still across the far north of mainland scotland in the northern isles will remain as we head through the rest of the week. now, overnight tonight, in the mild air, we should stay largely frost—free, still plenty of cloud

across the southeast of england. there will be some clear spells further north and west, more showers just moving into southern and western areas of scotland too. temperatures dipping to between 6—10 celsius, so a mild start to the day on friday. now, on friday morning, our weather front that�*s been out across the channel islands willjust start to reinvigorate across southeast england and east anglia. so the rain likely to pop up for a time through the morning, eventually clearing eastwards as we head through the afternoon. elsewhere, there�*s going to be a lot more sunshine around on friday than we saw today. but the daytime heating could help to spark off a few heavy, possibly thundery downpours, so do watch out for those. temperatures, maybe a little bit higher, 14—15 celsius for many, a localised 16 celsius always still possible, and the breeze will tend to be a bit lighter too. now, low pressure remains dominant as we head into the weekend. it�*s never too far away, and it�*s going to be pushing across us, sending us more weather fronts on saturday morning. so there�*ll be some showers, some longer spells of rain moving into western scotland, northern ireland as we head

through the morning, eventually into northwest england, and we�*ll see some showers develop across much of england and wales as we head through the afternoon. there will be a lot more cloud by the end of the day. temperatures still mild, though, 11—15 celsius, but the south—westerly wind turns a bit more northwesterly as we head into sunday. so it�*s a cooler start to the day. a lot of dry weather around on sunday, and it could slowly start to brighten up. temperatures a little lower than on saturday. here�*s next week�*s weatherjust working its way in from the west.

hello, i�*m kasia madera, this is outside source. all eyes on tiktok, as the british governmentjoins countries banning the chinese social media app from its phones and devices. there�*s already limited use of tiktok across government, but it is also good cyber—hygiene. the us, canada and india have taken similar action. but tiktok says the move is based on misconceptions. also in the programme... after months of strike action, hopes of an end to the nhs pay dispute in england, with a new offer to thousands of staff. and...

in france anger in parliament after president macron forces through his controversial pension reforms. we start with increasing warnings from western governments over the use of the chinese social—media platform, tiktok. today the british government banned it on all government and civil servants�* devices. take a listen. we�*re also going to ban the use of tiktok on devices. we will do so with immediate effect. mr speaker, this is a precautionary move. we know that there is already use of tiktok across government, but it is also good cyber—hygiene. on the face of it — the app might not look like a threat to national security. it�*s exploded in popularity as a platform to share short videos of viral dances and comical voice—overs.

and has become a part of today�*s youth culture. tiktok claims to have more than 1 billion monthly users worldwide. and last year it was the most downloaded app in the world. the app is owned by the chinese company byte—dance. and that�*s what�*s worrying governments. because the app can collect data stored on the device. that includes contacts, user content and location. here�*s our technology correspondent shiona mccall. what can beijing do with it? there was a law that was passed in 2017 in china which says that tech companies must comply with the communist party. so if they were to ask for the data from people all across the world, that could happen, and the concern is what chinese powers they would have if they were to access this kind of secure information that is on government minister�*s phones. the uk is not the first country to ban tiktok from government devices. similar legislation has been imposed in the us, canada,

the eu and taiwan and in 2020 india banned it outright, along with other chinese apps, over national security concerns. and the us could follow suit. here�*s our business correspondent katie silver. sell tiktok or else you might be banned. that is what the us government has told the parent company of tiktok. it has accused the chinese owned app as posing a national security risk by gathering the data of millions of users and possibly feeding this back to the chinese government. it is something washington has alleged for years and something byte—dance has consistently denied. the us government hasn�*t said this publicly, but it�*s according to a report in the wall street journal. in which a tiktok spokesperson also said if protecting national security is the objective, divestment, which is a company selling off a portion of its assets, doesn�*t solve the problem. and here is what the chinese government had to say... translation: the us has so far failed to produce evidence -

that tiktok threatens us national security. the us should stop spreading false information on data security issues, stop unreasonably suppressing this company, and provide an open, fair, just and non—discriminatory business environment for foreign companies to invest and operate in the us. caitlin chin is a fellow at the centre for strategic and international studies. i asked her if there�*s been any credible evidence that china is using us data from tiktok. the us government has not publicly revealed any direct evidence that the chinese government has yet access to personal information directly from tiktok or yet directly controlled tiktok�*s algorithm to target americans. that said, we do know that tiktok has an enormous amount of sensitive information which poses privacy concerns on its own, but to be fair, many mobile apps, especially in the united states,

which has a very under regulated data ecosystem, many mobile apps collect similar information to tiktok. so tiktok is the norm, not the exception when it comes to data collection. we also know that the chinese government does have access to personal information that is stored within chinese borders. so it is a little bit unclear right now, just because we don�*t have all of the evidence yet, and that adds a degree of uncertainty to all of this. given the secretive nature of the chinese government, do you reckon we would ever really get all of the evidence? and this suggestion that divestment, the opposite to investment, this idea that selling off a portion, the chinese part of the company, selling that off would work, does that work for you in your mind, in terms of making tiktok, which is used by so many people, acceptable? it is absolutely possible

that the public will never have all of the evidence or fully understand the full scope of the chinese government access to personal information, just because it is so secretive and that chinese government does not always reveal this. that said, divestment of tiktok to a us company or a non—chinese company will not be so easy. first of all, tiktok will need to find a buyer, and any company or any individual that is wealthy enough or have the resources to purchase or tiktok could also pose antitrust concerns, especially in the united states where the social media market is already so concentrated. a fair amount of risk tolerance as well because there is a good chance that the deal won�*t go through. the chinese government has strict export control laws that control the export of technology, including potentially tiktok�*s algorithm. it is unclear if, first of all,

tiktok can find a buyer, and second of all if the chinese government would allow it. a breaking health story. scientists have identified a gene variant which is known to increase the risk of breast and ovarian cancer specifically and people with heritage from the orkney islands in scotland. the study, which was published in the europeanjournal of human genetics, scientists found the universities of aberdeen and edinburgh found that one in 100 people with grandparents from orkney have a mutation of the gene. they believe the gene originated on the island, at least 250 years ago. around one in 1000 women across the uk have this variant, giving them a high lifetime chance of developing breast cancer and ovarian cancer.

fascinating. let�*s cross over to rebecca who joins us live from orkney this evening. talk us through what we�*re hearing here. it is what we're hearing here. it is fascinating. _ what we're hearing here. it is fascinating. this _ what we're hearing here. it is fascinating. this has - what we're hearing here. it 3 fascinating. this has been described ljy fascinating. this has been described by those involved is a really huge scientific discovery. as you say, this gene variant increases the risk of breast and ovarian cancer. if you have the gene variant it doesn�*t necessarily mean you will go on to develop cancer, it increases the risk. scientists have been working on this for a really long time. they started to see a higher number of women coming through cancer screenings in orkney that had this gene variant. they started to get suspicious so they started to investigate. now they have found evidence that as you say, one and 100 people with orkney grandparents have their specific variation of the

brca1 gene. to put it into context, we would be expecting that rate across the uk to be about one and 1000. during the scientists research they found this one common factor, thatis they found this one common factor, that is that many of the orkney residents with this faulty gene have close ancestral links to the tiny island of west street. it is just off the orkney mainland, has about 60 residents but people have lived there for thousands of years with it is thanks in part to the communities deep connection that the scientists have managed to get this point. but we talking about how significant this is. it is believed to be the first time that a geographical ancestral link like this has been identified in the uk. and the people have gathered for a public meeting, the scientists involved had travelled up there. in order to explain theirfindings travelled up there. in order to explain their findings face—to—face. it's explain their findings face—to—face. it�*s absolutely an extraordinary finding. just remind anybody that it

is one and 100 people with grandparents from orkney have this mutation. and normally across the uk it�*s one and 1000. beautiful part of the world, how are people reacting to this and what does this mean for those affected? this to this and what does this mean for those affected?— those affected? this news has “ust broken in the fi those affected? this news has “ust broken in the last i those affected? this news has “ust broken in the last halfi those affected? this news has “ust broken in the last half hour. h those affected? this news hasjust broken in the last half hour. the i broken in the last half hour. the residents in westerly have been invited to attend this public meeting tonight. we should really point out that the scientists are excited about this discovery. for many people it will come as a cause for concern. many people might not want to go and get the test to find out we should point out that the people that do have this le brca1 variant it doesn�*t mean they are going to go on and develop cancer but knowing you have the mutation opens up a lot of options for you. if you are a woman that you can go and get earlier screening. but in

the age of 30, for example risk reducing surgery is open to you. men can have this gene variant as well. you are not at a higher risk of developing breast cancer but both men and women can pass the gene onto their children. there will be cause for concern for people living in these island communities this evening. these island communities this evenina. ., ., ., , these island communities this evenina. ., ., . , evening. extraordinary development. thank ou evening. extraordinary development. thank you so — evening. extraordinary development. thank you so much _ evening. extraordinary development. thank you so much for— evening. extraordinary development. thank you so much for bringing - evening. extraordinary development. thank you so much for bringing that. thank you so much for bringing that to us. i�*m sure you will be attending that meeting for the local community. live with breaking news from orkney. there are links to cancer support charities, which are available on the bbc accident line if you have any concerns. the specific information about the brca1 on the macmillan cancer support website. if you are from orkney and you want to find out more about the screening just go to the online section by the nhs grampian website.

much more details there if you are concerned. much more also will be on our website. absolutely extraordinary story. after months of strike action by nhs staff in england there�*s hope that a new pay offer will put an end to the dispute. the staff who include nurses and ambulance workers are being presented with a deal negotiated over the past two weeks by trade unions and government. it aims to bring to an end a winter of industrial action which has seen a range of health workers go on strike, though doctors are not included as they are on a different contract. we�*re going to be making sure that we protect also frontline services with £14 billion of more funding that we announced at the end of last year, no one can doubt our commitment to making sure that the nhs is well—funded. and that will always remain the case. we got a great plan in place to make improvements. you are already seeing the results of that plan.

in fact, if you look at ambulance waiting times or waiting times in a&e they�*re already improving considerably from a couple of months ago. and we�*re on track to keep bringing the waiting list down. and with this pay agreement now everyone is good to be united behind that we couldn�*t deliver really fantastic, quality care epidemic country, that�*s what everyone in the nhs wants to do. they are being backed fully to the hilt to delivering it and i look forward to doing that for the country. so let�*s take a look at what�*s been agreed. the offer is in two parts. first a one—off payment for this financial year — to be paid within weeks — starting with around £1,600 — or $1,900 for the lowest paid. rising to £3700 for senior managers. and second, a pay rise of 5%, for the next financial year starting in early april. some campaigers point out that the offer is significantly short of a rise above inflation, and in real—terms means a pay cut.

but negotiators on both sides say it�*s the best deal they can produce, and the unions are likely to recommend the deal to their members. the winter of industrial action has seen thousands of nurses, ambulance staff and other nhs workers in england taking action, on pay and other working conditions. let�*s hear now from one of the unions. rachel harrison is the gmb�*s national secretary and told us the government had moved significantly in making this offer. gmb was asking for pay talks to be reopened, last year�*s pay offer, and negotiate with last year�*s pay offer and that is what we have received, so we will now move to a full consult to take a ballot of gmb members working across the nhs and the ambulance service. we will be saying that this is the best we believe can be achieved through negotiations, and therefore recommend an acceptance, but ultimately, it will come down to gmb members to vote whether they accept or reject.

not all unions are supported get. mark boothroyd, an a&e staff nurse and member of the unite union in london. unite is not recommending this offer to it�*s members, we don�*t believe we can recommend it because they happen to reopen the pay deal from last year. we are only receiving a none consolidated pay, which is like a bonus for last year and 5% for the year ahead which is a below inflation pay rise, again, for the umpteenth year in a row. this will again be a pay cut for our members, and we cannot recommend accepting this and i think it�*s incredibly disappointing that other unions are recommending acceptance. it�*s a lot of other unions, the rnc, the gmb, they are all backing this deal. so the rnc is describing it

as a reasonable offer. i just wonder, given that disruption that has been ongoing for such a long time, whether you will rethink your position on this in terms of unite not backing it. the real disruption from the nhs comes from a decade of below inflation pay rises, a decade of underinvestment in the service. we have had only six days of strike action by the rcn, a comparable number by unite and other unions in the ambulance service. we are not the cause of the disruption. when there were no strikes going on, when there was major chaos in a&e in december and january, and the royal college of emergency medicine estimated at 500 people were dying to be due , per week to delays in care and inability to admit patients in a timely manner. this is due to chronic underinvestment from the government and not from us.

the pay deal doesn�*t address this. also the government hasn�*t committed to fund it. so there is due to chronic underinvestment from the government and not from us. the pay deal doesn�*t address this. also the government hasn�*t committed to fund it. from the unite union, a nurse as well. not backing that offer. not backing that offer. stay with us on outside source — still to come... thousands gather on the streets of paris, as president macron�*s latest move on pensions sparks outrage. today, we have closed the book on apartheid and that chapter. more than 3,000 subway passengers were affected.

nausea, bleeding, headaches and a dimming of vision, all of this caused by an apparently organised attack. the trophy itself was on the pedestal in the middle of the cabinet here. now, this was an international trophy, and we understand now that the search for it has become an international search. above all, this was a triumph for the christian democrats. of the west, offering reunification as quickly as possible. _ and that's what the voters wanted. this is outside source live

from the bbc newsroom. our lead story... british government ministers are banned from using chinese—owned social media app tiktok on their work phones and devices. now to france, where president emmanuel macron is forcing through his controversial pension reforms, without a parliamentary vote. although the plan to raise the pension age from 62 to 64 passed the upper house, ministers realised they might not have the numbers in the lower house. it fell to prime minister elisabeth borne to break the news. the reaction from mps was boisterous, with some heckling, others breaking into song, while others even walked out. when she did get the chance to speak, this is what she said. translation: we cannot gamble on the future of our pensions. - this reform is necessary.

also, because i�*m attached to our social model and because i believe in parliamentary democracy, it is on your reform, on the parliament�*s text, the fruit of compromise between two chambers that i am ready to engage my responsibility. by engage "her responsiblity" france�*s prime minister means using special constitutional powers. this may be the least bad option for the government, but it is risky. paragraph 3 of article 49 has been enshrined in the constitution since its inception in 1958. it allows the prime minister to force a bill through "after deliberation by the council of ministers." but opposition politicians will call for a vote of no confidence in the government in the next 24 hours. both sides of the political spectrum have expressed their anger. the far—right politician,

marine le pen, said opposition deputies would file a motion of no—confidence in the government. translation: it's a question of preventing the expression l of the will of the french people through their elected representatives. they didn�*t manage to find a majority because they were bad. this reform was unfair, badly prepared, badly conceived badly presented, and until the end, it was like that. as the drama unfolded inside the assembly, outside there was plenty of anger too. huge crowds filled a vast square in central paris, with protesters denouncing the government. some people tried march on the nearby national assembly, while others chanted slogans orjust stood by. here�*s what some of the people there had to say. translation: it's unbearable. we�*ve been mobilized for two months and all the opinion polls show that they reject this pension reform. it�*s indecent and it�*s not going to stop there.

we are here today and we will continue the mobilization in our workplaces, everywhere in the cities, in the streets and elsewhere. we have to get together, we have to get organised, we have to fight. we have to make a mess, as some people say, block everything. take action, and in any case, what is certain is that we have to go beyond the mode of operation which have prevailed until now. but later there were scuffles between police and demonstrators in the place de la concorde. they took place as the authorities tried to clear the area. police reportedly fired tear gas at protesters on the place de la concorde. lines of police with shields and batons drawn have advanced towards the square, while others fired water cannon after a fire was lit in the middle of the plaza. earlier president macron defended his reform plan, while speaking to french diplomats.

translation: we must assume, i not simply to put an end to decades of decline and weakening, which we ourselves have done, but to give ourselves the ability to re—engage necessary capabilities to be able to deploy new skills and basically come at a time when war has returned to european soil, to give ourselves the means to serve our interests, to defend our priorities and our influence. bruno palier is sciences po university in paris is an expert in welfare reforms in europe. i asked him how the french president had managed to upset both ends of the political spectrum ? first of all, he managed to bother the french public opinion, that is the first thing, i think.

he has presented a reform that he knew was not very popular, but he was not to read the thinking that he should prepare it well in the sense of making a clear study of impact, having a coherent communication strategy. and since he was too fast in doing these things, there has been a public debate that has been undermining the strength of the necessity for us, the argument ofjustice, and the communication was full of, let�*s say, error, and sometimes lies. so it�*s a loss towards the public opinion and then the opposition can play with that and the radical right and the left can criticise for slightly different reasons, this project. he should�*ve got the conservative republican party inside, but he believed, initially, that he would get the numbers to get this through. he didn�*t. how could he not convince his natural bedfellows?

i think it is arrogance. he believed that he had a trick, which was to propose a pension reform by the right—wing and he thought thatjust by doing that, he would trap the right, but the right took advantage of that to increase their demand and to blackmail the government so that the man from the right is increasing and increasing and he had to yield some stuff, but the right, the centre—right is divided, and the division had them asking for more and more, and he was trapped. expert on welfare reforms across europe. we have been monitoring live pictures from paris we could see people out on the street. those pictures have gone so i don�*t have them for you. lots more on our

website. don�*t forget you can get in touch with me on social media. or the team on twitter — i�*m @kasiamadera. hello there, good evening. it�*s been a lot milder today than it was yesterday. we�*ve also seen some outbreaks of rain, mostly towards western spots of the uk, some soggy footpaths here in lancashire, but across northern ireland, some decent sunny spells, also some heavy thundery downpours in here. it�*s been the warmest day of the year so far with temperatures around 16 celsius, and no big changes for the rest of the week either, mild across the board. more wet and windy weather to come in the forecast because low pressure remains dominant. and it�*s been sending us these weather fronts throughout today and will continue to do so. also on that brisk south—westerly wind, some very mild air marked in yellow. the cold air still across the far north of mainland scotland in the northern isles will remain as we head through

the rest of the week. now, overnight tonight, in the mild air, we should stay largely frost—free, still plenty of cloud across the southeast of england. there will be some clear spells further north and west, more showers just moving into southern and western areas of scotland too. temperatures dipping to between 6—10 celsius, so a mild start to the day on friday. now, on friday morning, our weather front that�*s been out across the channel islands willjust start to reinvigorate across southeast england and east anglia. so the rain likely to pop up for a time through the morning, eventually clearing eastwards as we head through the afternoon. elsewhere, there�*s going to be a lot more sunshine around on friday than we saw today. but the daytime heating could help to spark off a few heavy, possibly thundery downpours, so do watch out for those. temperatures, maybe a little bit higher, 14—15 celsius for many, a localised 16 celsius always still possible, and the breeze will tend to be a bit lighter too. now, low pressure remains dominant as we head into the weekend. it�*s never too far away, and it�*s going to be pushing across us, sending us more weather fronts on saturday morning.

so there�*ll be some showers, some longer spells of rain moving into western scotland, northern ireland as we head through the morning, eventually into northwest england, and we�*ll see some showers develop across much of england and wales as we head through the afternoon. there will be a lot more cloud by the end of the day. temperatures still mild, though, 11—15 celsius, but the south—westerly wind turns a bit more northwesterly as we head into sunday. so it�*s a cooler start to the day. a lot of dry weather around on sunday, and it could slowly start to brighten up. temperatures a little lower than on saturday. here�*s next week�*s weatherjust working its way in from the west.

this is bbc news. we�*ll have the headlines and all of them main news stories for you at the top of the hour — straight after this programme. this week, we�*re going low and slooow. although what is it that has given spencer such a shock? ow! tittering. an absolute pleasure and privilege to meet you, sir. how are you doing?

life beyond the grave, jim, but not as we know it.